Emily Eases into the Eel

Emily is the missionary extraordinaire. She has been super busy teaching lessons, baptizing people, eating eel and more things than any of us will experience in a life time.

Best wishes Emily and may the force be with you.

Grandpa Crane's Birthday June 19th

I will always remember Grandpa Crane for the challenges he endured. Allergies and asthma were some of them. Living on a farm made it even more difficult when hay, grain, animals, dust were swirling in the air. The pasture where the sheep grazed was full of thistle. One summer as we grand children played, remember Grandpa out all day, week and month digging up the thistle plants. Not only did he hate them as well as being bad for the sheep, they made it difficult for him to breathe.

I wish now to have been a better grand daughter, that I had gone out into that field and helped my granddad dig out those thistles. If we all would have helped, the job would have been done quickly. He would have been spared a hot tedious job. Our appreciation for him and his for us would have been much stronger. Please forgive me, for being so selfish that summer long, long ago. Love you.

Try Flying on Trampoline Time

Breann was feeling like a kid when she climbed onto our old trampoline and began jumping. It's something about the bounce and flying into the air that makes us full of wonder and wow.

As one continues to jump that exhilarating feeling flows into them and they just cannot stop. The higher the bounce the more creative the juices are.

We were all laughing and I caught much of it on camera. As each adult came over, we convinced them they all have to experience the joy of the trampoline. They all were enjoying the journey with gusto.

Stop by some time and try it. You will definitely like (No, LOVE it)!

Emily Ever on the Go

Sister Emily Welch serving a mission in Guam and currently on one of the many islands nearby, had a baptism. Hip, hip, hurray!! Due to lots of hard work they found a handsome young man and look at the smiles on their faces.

Life is not without its challenges on this tropical island. It rains lots. In fact it's a very much like living 'in' a waterfall. The trick is to avoid it as much as possible. There are abundant dirt roads, waist high grasses, puddles as big as cars. You may just land in one of them. It is sure to happen at least once a week.

This doesn't deter Sister Welch from serving the Lord in the best way she knows how. It's with a smile on her face and a desire to keep on going and going.

Ann Eugenia An Amazing Matriarch

Grandma Gene celebrated her birthday this month on the 22nd. Born in 1896 in Nounan, Idaho. She lived a full life until passing away in 1971. She was a great storyteller, crochet and knitter, quilt and dress maker, farmer's wife and more. Raising a family of seven children during the depression, she met challenges head on. Sending four sons to war wasn't easy, but she was proud of them and wrote often. Not quite five feet tall, with a 5 EEE shoe size, she didn't let anyone take advantage of her. A braid wrapped into a bun on the back of her head, kept her three feet of hair tucked away. Only occasionally would she take it down for us to see. An apron was always protecting her dresses, which were all the same style. Sometimes her apron was the same fabric as her dress. She set a goal to make a quilt for every grandchild that graduated from high school. She even asked our favorite colors to incorporate into it. I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful Texas Star quilt from her. It is one of my most cherished items. She had several quilt tops ready to be quilted for many more that graduated after her passing.

Even though Grandma had cataracts and very poor vision, she kept going. She suffered many other health issues, but between every good moment and speck of sight, she sacrificed to make a quilt for her beloved grand children. Thank you, Grandma. We love you forever!!

Treasures Found at the Cemetery

I spent ten days near the Salt Lake City Cemetery, while Allan was in the hospital. It was interesting to hike to it and stroll among the graves. This week after his doctor's appointment we went there again, stopping in at the cemetery office. They located the headstones of Elizabeth and Adam Hunter, gave us a map and we found them.

How cool is that? One hundred year old graves, with our great, great, great grand parents residing there all these years. Now I know where they are.

Four Year Anniversary Today

It's the four year anniversary of when Mom died. It came all too soon, and the time has passed quickly. Much has happened since her death as life goes on. There have been three weddings, three missionary grandchildren and three missionary great-grand children serve, twelve great grand babies have been born, and so on. She left a great legacy. Many people still tell me how friendly and they loved her. Here are some of her favorite things: German Chocolate cake was her specialty. Her cake mix was Duncan Hines with homemade coconut frosting. We loved it.

Cereal Candy. She gave it as Christmas gifts, took it to every party and we had unlimited supplies. She kept a year storage of the ingredients, in case she was asked to make it. No one could duplicate it quite like she made it.

Green Jello with cottage cheese. My personal favorite of all time. I always said when she made it, "I will love this forever!" I still do.

She always wore a Timex men's watch with a metal band. The battery is still working to this day. I use her last one every morning to keep track of time, when I go walking.

KSL Radio was her one and only station. She listened to it every day. Her favorite DJ was Doug Wright. As a girl I remember the radio always being on. It was a battle to be able to listen to our sixties music, because she was KSL all the way.